Post lift adapter



May 10, 1966 e. E. SWICK, JR

POST LIFT ADAPTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1963 R d m I W n M5 WA W z 5 p. A Z; W;

May 10, 1966 G. E SWICK, JR

POST LIFT ADAPTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 6, 1965 INVENTOR (Ska/ye J fa/4%, 3J4 (2. WW

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,250,346 POST LIFT ADAPTER George E. Swick, Jr., Springfield, 111., assignor to Dura Corporation, Oak Park, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,082 4 Claims. (Cl. 1878.54)

This invention relates to vehicle lifts and hoists in general and more particularly to twin post lifts and means for adapting the rear end supports thereof for axle housing or rear wheel support.

Although most vehicles may be lifted by means engaged with the rear axle housing, rear engine vehicles and those equipped with trans-axles and other unusual types of rear suspension are more readily lifted by the rear wheels. This has required many service facilities to install separate hoists to accommodate the different types of vehicles and has entailed added expense in equipment and a loss of space and versatility in that the two types of hoists have not been interchangeable.

Although numerous efforts have been made to devise a suitable means of combining these different types of supports, or to provide a suitable adapter for converting from one type of support to another, none have proven too satisfactory. v

In general, most of the efforts to provide a dual purpose rear end support for twin post lifts have been directed towards having some type of adapter which may be added to one of the different supports to convert it to the other use. However, the use of such adapter means as have been proposed has introduced problems in the time required for conversion, the attention necessary to be sure the conversion has been properly made, and the inconvenience of making a conversion, later removing the adapter means, and in providing adequate storage for the adapter assembly.

It is an object of this invention to provide a lift for use with vehicles requiring either rear axle or rear wheel support and which include means for readily converting from one use to the other without special attention by a service attendant.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate the problems of separate adapter means requiring special attention for installation, storage, etc. by providing a combination unit in one assembly.

It is an object of this invention to provide two types of lifts within one assembly designed for simplification of installation, compact storage and ready and selective use thereof as the demand for one or the other thereof dictates.

It is an object of this invention to provide different types of lifts in nested relation and with cooperative means therebetween for disposing only one thereof for operative use.

It is an object of this invention to provide different lifts in nested relation and with cooperative means for actuating one thereof without the other or both thereof with only one serving its intended purpose.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a pair of supports for the rear ends of vehicles, usable with twin post lifts, and including a rear axle housing support which may be separately elevated from below floor level or adapted to engage and carry a rear wheel support frame thereover.

Other objects of this invention include having the rear wheel support means including the selective control for engagement with the rear axle housing support, the rear axle housing support formed and disposed to provide stable lift support for the rear wheel support means when so required, a simple and effective operative control 3,250,346 Patented May 10, 1966 See system, and other features which will be better understood and appreciated upon a reading of the following specification having reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention and to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fragmentary section of a service station floor showing a twin post lift having the rear end hoist adapted to include the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the rear end post lift of FIGURE 1 having parts broken away to better show other operative parts thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rear end vehicle support means of this invention as seen in the plane of line 33 of FIGURE 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon and as used for rear axle housing support.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rear end vehicle support means of this invention similar to FIG- URE 3 and showing such means as used for rear wheel vehicle support.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are enlarged cross-sectional and fragmentary section views of the support means of FIG- URE 2 as seen in the plane of lines 5-5 and 66, respectively, and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon, to emphasize certain detail features of the structure.

Referring now to the drawings in further detail:

The vehicle hoist 10, of the twin lift post type, is shown by FIGURE 1 to include a front lift unit 12 and a rear lift unit 14.

The front lift unit 12 includes a support frame 16 mounted on the end of a hydraulic lift post which is disposed within a recess closed by cover doors 18 and is adapted for fore and aft adjustment. Laterally adjustable front suspension supports 20 are provided on the end of the support frame 16 to accommodate different vehicles in a manner commonly known.

The rear lift unit 14 is disposed within a suitable shallow pit or recess provided in the service station floor. It includes a rear wheel support or adapter frame 22 which is formed to include wheel receptive openings or chocks 24 near the outer ends thereof. It also includes a center opening 26 which is formed by laterally extended and parallel spaced side rails 28 and 3t).

A rear axle housing support member 32 is disposed centrally of the rear wheel support frame 22 and is receptive through the center opening 26 provided therein. It includes a carrier frame 34 which is mounted directly on the lift post 36 and axle housing engaging supports or saddle mounts 38 and 40 which are in turn provided thereon.

Referring for the moment to FIGURE 3, a vehicle having a conventional rear axle 42 is adapted to have the saddle mount members 38 and 40 of the rear axle housing support 32 engaged directly thereto in lifting the rear end of a vehicle and to have the vehicle wheels 44 and 46 unsupported.

Referring to FIGURE 4, a vehicle having independent rear axle suspension 48 has the vehicle wheels 44 and 45 received and supported within the chock openings 24 of the rear wheels support frame 22 in lifting the rear end of the vehicle.

The carrier frame 34 of the rear axle support 32 is an upwardly open channel section member and has the saddle supports 38 and 40, normally provided on a common casting, received in and adjustably secured thereto. Cross bars 50 and 52 are secured under the carrier frame 34 and have their ends extended beyond the sides of the carrier frame member.

When the axle housing support 32 is retracted, it is received over vertical posts or pins 54 and 56 which extend through suitable accesses provided to the base thereof. These serve as cover supports in a manner later described and also orient and guide the-rear axle housing support through the center opening 26 in the wheel support frame 22 and relative thereto.

The rear wheel support or adapter frame 22 includes a laterally adjustable frame member 58 which is engaged thereto and disposed in supporting relation thereunder. The adjustable frame member 58 includes side rails 60 and 62 disposed under the rear wheel support frame rails 28 and 30 and includes connecting cross-rails 64 and 66. Guide rails 68 and 70 are connected to the side rails 60 and 62 and are disposed over the latter within the support frame opening 26. Elongated slots 72 are provided in the guide rails and bolts 74, in threaded engagement with the frame rails 28 and 30, are received through the slots and are provided with spacers and rollers 76 and 78, respectively. This provides a hanger support for the adjustable frame 58 on the rear wheel support or adapter frame 22 and enables the adjustable frame to be readily shifted back and forth within the limits of the slots 72 and relative to the ends of the support frame.

Lift brackets or pick-up saddles 80 are provided on the adjustable frame member 58. These bracket members are welded to the side rails 60 and 62 of the adjustable frame member and have the guide rails 68 and 70 secured to the upper ends thereof which extend into the frame opening 26. They include depending prongs or jaws 82 and 84 which are receptive of the extended ends of the cross bars 50 and 52 as will subsequently be described.

The lift brackets or pick-up saddles 80 are disposed on opposite sides and near opposite ends of the adjustable frame 58. Brackets 86 are provided between the ends of the adjustable frame for intermediate support of the guide rails 68 and- 70.

Referring between FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be ap preciated that when the cross bars 50 and 52 are received in engagement With the lift brackets 80 the carrier frame 34 of the rear axle support 32 will lift the rear wheel support frame 22 as it is elevated itself.

The control mechanism 90 for shifting the adjustable frame 58 is provided at one end of the rear wheel support frame 22. It includes a shift rod 92 extending through a suitable latching bracket 94 on the end of the rear wheel support frame and engaged with a shift rod post 96 provided on the adjustable frame. Extension springs 98 bias the shift rod in a retracted position and the adjustable frame 58 in its pick-up position.

The end of the shift rod 92 is formed to provide a right angle bend which serves as a selector lever 100. A service station attendant may readily operate the rod 92 by engaging it with his foot, pull it out, and turning it down into a latched position in the bracket 94. He may also catch the lever 100 with his toe to turn it up and release it from its latched position, whereupon the spring 98 will effect the retracted shifting of the adjustable frame 58.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, and to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will 'be noted that cover doors 102 and 104 are provided on the rear wheel support frame 22 and are disposed over the frame opening 26. The cover doors include no hinged supports but have the outer disposed edges thereof resting on V-blocks 106 provided about the side edges of the opening 26. When the cover doors are opened they drop into the depressions 108 in the V-blocks and accordingly set lower than if supported by conventional hinges. This is an asset in providing more clearance under a vehicle raised by the rear wheel support frame 22 as will be later appreciated.

The side edges of the cover doors are supported on ledge forming members 110 framing the sides of the opening 26. However, additional support for the doors when the rear left unit 14 is on the floor is provided by the support pins 54 and 56 which extend through the serve to prevent damage due to the weight of a car passing thereover.

The twin post lift is operated in the conventional manner and only differences in operational procedure and as applicable to this invention need be discussed in any detail. Essentially, the operation differs only in that the rear adapters are convertible for lifting either by the rear axle housing or by the vehicle wheels.

The front lift unit 12 and rear lift unit 14 are both disposed on the floor. be lifted pass over the rear lift unit 14 and the vehicle is moved forward until the rear wheels are received within the chock openings 24 of the rear wheel support frame or adapter 22. The chock openings 24 at the outer ends of the rear wheel support frame serve as wheel chocks which automatically center the rear end of the vehicle with its axles and wheels properly disposed for lifting engagement by one of the support means of the rear lift unit.

The front lift unit 12 has the front suspension supports 20 laterally adjusted to accommodate the particular vehicle disposed thereover.

The shift rod 92 of the adjustable frame control 90 is preferably left in an unlatched position whereby the spring means 98 hold the adjustable frame 58 with the pick-up saddles 80 disposed for engagement by the cross bars 50 and 52 of the rear axle housing support. Accordingly, if the vehicle disposed on the twin post lift is to be raised by the rear wheels, all that needs to be done is to activate the twin post lifts. In so doing, the rear lift post will raise the rear axle housing support 32 and the saddle mounts 38 and 40 will start to open the cover doors 100 and 102 as the housing support begins its passage through the opening 26 in the rear wheel support frame. In the course of such movement the cross bars 50 and 52 will become engaged within the pick-up saddles 80 and the rear wheel support frame 22 will be elevated on the lift post and the vehicle to be carried therewith.

The saddle mounts 38 and 40 of the axle housing support means 32, and the-cover doors 100 and 102 do not project sufliciently above the rear wheel support frame 22 to cause any interference with the undercarriage of the vehicle being lifted.

However,-if more clearance or accessibility under the axle is required, the saddle block support mounts may be removed before the vehicle is positioned thereover so that they do not project over the wheel support frameand the cover doors will remain closed. This is accomplished by simply raising the lift post until the saddle mounts project through the cover doors, removing the axle adapter saddle supports, lowering the lift system for subsequent use as has been discussed.

When the vehicle to be lifted requires support of the axle housing, the rear wheel support frame 22 is disengaged from the rear axle housing support 32 by activating the control mechanism 90. This merely requires the service attendant to pull out the shift rod 92 and turn it so that the end is held within the latching bracket 94. This will pull the adjustable frame 58 to the left (referring to the drawings) and remove the pick-up saddles from the upward path of movement of the cross bars 50 and 52 which would otherwise become engaged therewith.

Activation of the lift post accordingly causes the rear axle housing support 32 to be elevated through the opening 26 in the rear wheel support frame 22 and avoids any pick-up engagement of the latter. The saddle mounts 38 and 40 push open the cover doors and 102'in the course of their passage therethrough and continue their upward movement for engagement with the axle housing of the vehicle to be lifted.

The length of the carrier frame 22 and the limited width of the chocks 24 is such as precludes eccentric loading which might cause the frame to tilt to one side or the The front wheels of a vehicle to other. However, to guard against any unforeseen eccentric load or inadvertent lowering of the frame on an obstacle left under one end, which would tend to tilt the carrier frame, the pick-up saddles 80 have the tangs extended so that the distance between the two cross-bars 50 and 52 is less than between either thereof and the end of tangs 84 of the other pick-up saddle. Thus the carrier frame 22 will hang-up on one of the cross-bars if it tries to pivot about the other cross-bar before any serious tilt can occur. The frame can be vertically disassociated from the cross-bars 50 and 52 but it cannot be pivoted about one and out of engagement with the other.

It will be appreciated that the assembly disclosed is compact in arrangement and requires only a very shallow pit for installation. Neither of the support means for rear axle or rear wheel engagement are themselves required to be removed or adjusted to accomplish whichever conversion is required. Accordingly, they are always properly disposed for use. Furthermore, the rear wheel support means serve a dual purpose in assuring proper alignment of a vehicle thereover for the rear axle housing pick-up when required.

No separate control means disposed apart from the operative mechanism are required. The shift rod is part of the wheel support frame and travels therewith. The operation is simple and the control mechanism is relatively trouble-free.

The wheel receptive support frame is laterally and longitudinally supported on the adjustable frame for greater stability. Such supporting engagement is centered and positively located by the pick-up saddles and their engagement with the carrier frame cross-bars.

The combination lift is required to be specifically activated for rear axle housing support and will otherwise provide wheel support. According, inadvertent operation before adapting the structure for axle housing pick-up will be of no consequence.

Although not specifically mentioned before, it will be appreciated that the wheel chock openings of the wheel support frame are sufficiently extended to accommodate different track vehicles. Also, although the axle housing saddle support is preferably a single casting designed to accommodate a wide variety of vehicles, it may include separate changeable or adjustable saddle supports.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be appreciated that certain modifications and improvements are within the scope of the teachings set forth. Accordingly, such of these improvements and modifications as are within the spirit of the invention and are not specifically excluded by the language of the hereinafter appended claims, are to be considered as inclusive thereunder.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle lift having a lift post and an axle engaging saddle member provided on the upper end of the lift post, a wheel engaging frame member having side rails and an opening in the center thereof for receiving the lift post and saddle member therethrough in the course of lifting a vehicle by its axle, and means for connecting the wheel engaging member to the lift post for lifting a vehicle by its wheels, the improvement comprising;

a carrier frame provided on the upper end of the lift post and having the axle engaging saddle member provided thereon and extending thereover,

an adjustable frame provided on the wheel engaging frame member and movable relative thereto into and out of engagement with the carrier frame,

and said saddle member being independently adjustable on said carrier frame and removable therefrom for providing greater clearance under a vehicle supported by the wheel engaging frame member.

2. The vehicle lift of claim 1, said saddle member standing suificiently over said carrier frame to lie under the axles of a vehicle supported by its wheels and in position for emergency engagement therewith.

3. The vehicle lift of claim 1, said adjustable frame being provided within the center opening of the wheel engaging frame member and in engagement with the side rails thereof,

downwardly open lift brackets provided on the adjustable frame and cross-bars provided on the carrier frame for engagement therewithin,

and means provided between the adjustable frame and the wheel engaging frame member for biasing the adjustable frame and the lift brackets thereof for engagement by the cross-bars in the lift of a vehicle by its wheels unless otherwise specifically intended.

4. In a vehicle lift having a lift post and axle engaging saddle member provided on the upper end of the lift post, a wheel engaging frame member having an opening in the center thereof for receiving the lift post and saddle member therethrough in the course of lifting a vehicle by its axle, and means for connecting the wheel engaging member to the lift post for lifting a vehicle by its wheels, the improvement comprising;

a carrier frame including an upwardly open channel member provided on the upper end of the lift post and having the axle engaging saddle member provided therein and adjustable between the ends thereof,

said wheel engaging member including side rails framing the opening in the center thereof and having an adjustable frame received in the opening and engaged to the side rails,

said adjustable frame having pin-slot engagement with said side rails and being of a relative length affording relative movement thereof between the ends of said center opening,

means provided at one end of said adjustable frame for biasing it towards one end of the center opening in said wheel engaging frame member and means engaged to the other end thereof for counter acting said biasing means,

a pair of cross-bar members provided on the underside of the carrier frame and extending transversely thereof,

downwardly open lift brackets provided on the adjustable frame and disposed for engagement by the cross-bars on the underside of the carrier frame in the elevation thereof by said lift post,

said carrier frame being disposed relatively below said adjustable frame prior to the elevation of said lift post and said adjustable frame being positionable relative and independent thereto and to the wheel engaging frame member on which provided,

said wheel engaging frame member being relatively immobile with respect to the lift post and prior to lift engagement therewith for assuring reasonably consistent center positioning of a vehicle thereover for lift by its wheels,

and said axle engaging saddle members being relatively adjustable on said carrier frame for balanced support of a vehicle by its axle and being removable therefrom to provide greater axle clearance in the support of a vehicle by its wheels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A VEHICLE LIFT HAVING A LIFT POST AND AN AXLE ENGAGING SADDLE MEMBER PROVIDED ON THE SUPPORT END OF THE LIFT POST, A WHEEL ENGAGING FRAME MEMBER HAVING SIDE RAILS AND AN OPENING IN THE CENTER THEREOF FOR RECEIVING THE LIFT POST AND SADDLE MEMBER THERETHROUGH IN THE COURSE OF LIFTING A VEHICLE BY ITS AXLE, AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE WHEEL ENGAGING MEMBER TO THE LIFT POST FOR LIFTING A VEHICLE BY ITS WHEELS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING; A CARRIER FRAME PROVIDED ON THE UPPER END OF THE LIFT POST AND HAVING THE AXLE ENGAGING SADDLE MEMBER PROVIDED THEREON AND EXTENDING THEREOVER, AN ADJUSTABLE FRAME PROVIDED ON THE WHEEL ENGAGING FRAME MEMBER AND MOVABLE RELATIVE THERETO INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT BEING INDEPENDENTLY ADJUSTABLE AND SAID SADDLE MEMBER BEING INDEPENDENTLY ADJUSTABLE ON SAID CARRIER FRAME AND REMOVABLE THEREFROM FOR PROVIDING GREATER CLEARANCE UNDER A VEHICLE SUPPORTED BY THE WHEEL ENGAGING FRAME MEMBER. 